PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gegard Mousasi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chase Fowler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mousasi
vs
Fowler

186 cm
21
212 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
18
215 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gegard Mousasi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chase Fowler!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Franklyn Lucas and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mousasi explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Mousasi misses with a double jab.
Mousasi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fowler.
Fowler misses with a takedown attempt - Mousasi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Fowler shoots in looking for a takedown but Mousasi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Fowler's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Fowler misses with a takedown

and Mousasi counters by clinching up.
Gegard Mousasi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chase Fowler.
Mousasi stops a takedown attempt from Fowler.
Fowler is trying to drag Mousasi to the mat but Mousasi just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Fowler is fighting off a takedown attempt but Mousasi is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Fowler to the mat. Fowler regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mousasi loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Fowler keeping moving, preventing Mousasi from controlling successfully.
Mousasi is looking to work some ground and pound but Fowler has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mousasi trying to control but Fowler is working from the bottom.
Mousasiis looking to pass into half guard but Fowler pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Fowler is in guard.
Mousasi tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Fowler drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Fowler jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Mousasi kicks Fowler off and gets to his feet.
Fowler misses with a takedown attempt - Mousasi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mousasi rushes Fowler and presses him up against the cage.
Fowler tries to score a body lock takedown but Mousasi shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Mousasi is working for takedown but Fowler is calmly controlling the position for now.
Mousasi tries to score a body lock takedown but Fowler shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Fowler has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mousasi avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Mousasi drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Fowler gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Fowler lands a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mousasi keeping full guard, as Fowler tries to pass.
Mousasi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Fowler on the ground.
Fowler is looking to work some ground and pound but Mousasi has wrist control.
Fowler trying to control but Mousasi is working from the bottom.

Mousasi kicks Fowler off and gets to his feet.
Mousasi tries for a takedown but Fowler sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mousasi slaps away a takedown attempt from Fowler, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Mousasi lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Fowler has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Fowler and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Mousasi pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mousasi leaves Fowler with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Fowler shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mousasi slaps away a takedown attempt from Fowler, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mousasi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fowler takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mousasi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gegard Mousasi dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nice sprawl there from Mousasi as Fowler shoots in.

Mousasi shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Fowler napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Mousasi in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Mousasi throwing strikes but Fowler manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Fowler wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mousasi keeps working.

Fowler wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mousasi, who protects the arm well.
Mousasi wants to control but Fowler postures up.
Fowler wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mousasi keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fowler tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Fowler has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Mousasi is trying to control Fowler's posture but Fowler avoids it.

Fowler wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mousasi, who protects the arm well.
Mousasi bucks up and tries to throw Fowler off but instead Fowler has got his back!

Fowler has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mousasi needs to remain patient if he's going to get out of this sticky situation.
I really don't envy Mousasi right now.

Fowler looking for the choke from the back.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fowler is trying to stick to Mousasi's back but Mousasi is turning into Fowler. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Fowler's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Mousasi.
Fowler wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Mousasi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mousasi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Fowler keeping moving, preventing Mousasi from controlling successfully.
Mousasi throws an elbow that misses. Fowler uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mousasi's guard. Nice move by Fowler!
Fowler trying to control the position from guard on top but Mousasi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fowler is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Fowler throwing strikes from guard but Mousasi blocks nicely.
Fowler working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mousasi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Fowler is controlling him.
Fowler tries to free his leg and advance position but Mousasi is retaining full guard.

Fowler got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mousasi has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Fowler has managed to get both his arms back between Mousasi's legs - danger averted.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Fowler drops back looking for a leg! Mousasi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Mousasi manages to kick Fowler off! Fowler jumps back into Mousasi's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mousasi wants to sweep here but Fowler controlling him for the moment.
Fowler postures up in Mousasi's guard and throws a big left but Mousasi blocks it.
Fowler missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Fowler postures up.
Mousasi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fowler makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Mousasi wants to stand up but Fowler is controlling him.
Fowler landing with the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chase Fowler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Mousasi leaves Fowler with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mousasi fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Fowler has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Mousasi throws a nice looking combination but Fowler bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mousasi misses with a hook. Fowler ducked under it nicely.
Mousasi throws a half hearted mid kick.
Fowler shoots in looking for a takedown but Mousasi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Fowler's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Mousasi misses with a takedown attempt - Fowler sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mousasi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Fowler with a lazy takedown attempt
and Mousasi counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Gegard Mousasi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chase Fowler.
Fowler misses with a takedown attempt - Mousasi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mousasi looks to land a right hand but Fowler moved out of range.
Fowler misses with a takedown attempt - Mousasi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Chase Fowler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mousasi wants to clinch but Fowler slips to the side

and Fowler counters with a shoot takedown. Mousasi fights it but they end up in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mousasi wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Fowler keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mousasi's head.
Mousasi is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fowler prevents Mousasi from getting back to his feet.

Mousasi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Fowler gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fowler throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mousasi keeping moving, preventing Fowler from controlling successfully.
Fowler is working Mousasi over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mousasi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Fowler has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mousasi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Fowler sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Mousasi's guard.
Fowler uses his free foot to push down on Mousasi's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Mousasi.

Fowler wants to finish this one by submission but Mousasi is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Fowler.
Fowler looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Fowler connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fowler is landing with some decent strikes but Mousasi is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fowler has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Mousasi's face.

It looks like Gegard Mousasi has been cut.

Fowler has control of Mousasi's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Mousasi regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Fowler unloading with bombs!

Fowler has control of Mousasi's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Mousasi regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Mousasi working to try and regain half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chase Fowler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Fowler has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chase Fowler!
A relieved looking Chase Fowler thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.